Kahne Not Interested In Mending Fences With Kyle Busch

Kahne crashed hard at Pocono

Kyle Busch emailed Kasey Kahne this week in the aftermath of their latest tangle at Pocono Raceway last Sunday. That email will apparently go unread, after Kahne said today that he has no interest in anything the Joe Gibbs Racing driver has to say.

“He did write me an email,” said Kahne to reporters at Michigan International Speedway. “But I don’t really care anymore. I don’t care to talk to him, or anything.”

Sunday’s incident occurred when Busch appeared to squeeze Kahne into the outside wall on Pocono’s lightning-fast Long Pond Straightaway, leaving Kahne’s Great Clips Chevrolet unable to continue en route to a 42^nd-place finish.

Kahne expressed anger immediately after the race, saying, "That's just Kyle being Kyle. He was probably pissed off because his car was slow. He just floored it, didn't care there was someone out there and ran me right into the wall.” 

Kahne and Busch have history

By some counts, Sunday’s crash was the fourth involving the pair in the last two seasons. After tangling last August on the road course at Watkins Glen International, Kahne tweeted that he was "headed to Joe Gibbs Racing to talk to whoever will come out front."

Today, Kahne said there has been a common denominator in all the crashes; Busch’s over-aggressiveness.

“I had already passed Kyle,” he said. “The reason he passed me back was because I was passing Ryan Newman and (our) two cars… going down the straightaway side-by-side gave him an opportunity to get a big draft and stick his nose in when we got to Turn One.

“He knew if he didn’t clear me, that he would be a position behind. So he just floored it.

“If it’s close, someone is going to (have to) lift,” said Kahne. “When you put someone in that position, it’s up to the guy on the inside. His spotter was telling him ‘outside, outside, outside.’”

Kahne said he is not interested in discussing Sunday’s wreck with Busch, adding, “I talked through every situation with him last year when we had them. And to this day, I’ve still raced him the exact same way. For him to do that (Sunday)… I knew it was coming as soon as he floored it in the corner.

“I was like, ‘You can’t (race that way)! You’re going to run me right in the wall!’  I think he was having a bad day and he just loses it.”

Former NASCAR Euro Series Driver Killed In Shooting

NASCAR Whelen Euro Series driver Enzo Pastor was killed Thursday night in a shooting in the Philippines.

Reports say the 32-year old Pastor was driving a team transporter en route to this weekend’s Asian V8 Series championship race at Clark International Speedway in in Pampanga, Philippines, and was stopped at a traffic signal in the town of Quezon City when a masked assailant approached his vehicle and opened fire.

Pastor was struck in the head, neck and arm, and was pronounced dead at a local hospital a short time later. A passenger in the vehicle, Paulo Salazar, reportedly suffered non-life-threatening injuries.

Pastor finished sixth in the 2013 NASCAR Whelen Euro Series championship standings, but had not competed in the series this season. Investigators have reportedly ruled out robbery as a motive, since none of Pastor's personal belongings were stolen.

It is unknown whether the shooting is related to racing. 

Larson Announces There's A Baby On The Way

Kyle Larson bought his first house recently. Now, he’s ready to fill it with the pitter-patter of little feet.

The 21-year old Chip Ganassi Racing rookie announced during a media availability today at Michigan International raceway that he and girlfriend Katelyn Sweet will welcome their first child in late December.

“Me and Katelyn just found out we are having a baby, so it’s a really exciting time,” said Larson. “With how good the racing has been going, a new house and now (this), it’s been a lot of fun.

"(The due date) was Dec. 29 the first time she went,” he said. “Then it was Christmas, and now it is kind of back to December 29^th. Christmas sounds cool, so I will go with Christmas."

Sweet, the sister of NASCAR Nationwide Series and Open Wheel driver Brad Sweet, posted an ultrasound image of the baby to her Twitter account this morning as well, with the caption, “Baby Larson due December 2014.”

Larson closed on the new house on June 2, joking that the home would soon “look like a Chuck E Cheese with even more TVs."

Montoya On Michigan Return: "We Can Win"

Juan Pablo Montoya returns to the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series this weekend at Michigan International Speedway, running the first  of two scheduled races in the No. 12 SKF Ford for Team Penske. The Columbia native said he believes he can be a threat to win this weekend, despite a limited schedule of testing in advance.

“It’s exciting to be back, especially with Team Penske and the SKF Ford," he said. "I only had one day of testing in Nashville before the Indy 500, so it’s been awhile. But in Nashville, it took me about five laps to really get comfortable in the car. The way Team Penske is running here, it’s a hell of a chance. You see Joey’s comments sometimes and he says, `It was a terrible day’ and he finished fifth or sixth. I would have killed to have a car that would do that. 

“Our goal here is (to) take it as it comes this weekend, but the way I really look at it is, it’s really good preparation for the Brickyard 400. I’m working with Greg Erwin, who is a real experienced crew chief.  He’s won races and he knows what it takes to get it done.  If we do a good job here understanding what I want out of the car, then going to the Brickyard, we might be looking really, really strong. 

“It could be fun.”

Montoya said it is difficult to compare Team Penske to his former team; calling Chip Ganassi Racing “a very different organization.  With Chip we had good years, bad years, good races, bad – we had everything.  The way Team Penske is running right now, every week they have a shot at winning. If we do a good job here and we have a decent race, we’ll easily get a Top-10. And if I’m really comfortable in the car, we could even look at a win. 

“With my background in open wheel, coming here is going to play into my hands a little bit,” he said. “It’s a really fast track. It’s a track where you don’t brake, it’s a track where you’re really controlling the throttle. You do that a lot in Indy Car. 

“I always run well here and qualify really well here,” said Montoya. “Last year, I think I qualified 10^th and sixth in the Ganassi car, so coming here is really exciting.  Roger gave me the opportunity to come here and we want to make SKF and the Ford group proud of what we can do.”

Montoya said he hopes to contend for the win in both his Sprint Cup Series starts this season, and is focusing on Michigan as “probably one of the best tracks for the Fords. They always excel here and have a car that can win. And with the way Team Penske is running right now, if it clicks from the beginning, we might have a shot at winning this. 

“The Brickyard is (also) a place that I run really well.  Even when we ran bad, we were always in the Top-10, so going there in a car like this, you’re definitely looking at a shot at a win as well.”

Oops! Earnhardt Leaves Newman Standed At Airport

Ryan Newman’s race weekend is off to a rocky start, after being left at the airport this morning by fellow driver Dale Earnhardt, Jr.

“I still don’t know where he’s at,” admitted Earnhardt is his weekly Friday media briefing at Michigan International Speedway. “Tuesday, (Ryan) asked me if he could get a ride to the race track, which is common for drivers to do. We were leaving at 8:30 a.m.; that is what it said on my calendar.  (But) since Tuesday, we have added some media (obligations) to this morning and did a couple of things out front (with fans). 

“My PR guy, Mike Hoag, moved take-off time to 8:00 a.m., but I didn’t know about it. When I got up this morning, I didn’t look at the clock, I just got in the shower, went downstairs, got in the car, drove to the airport and got on the plane. 

“I forgot about Ryan,” he admitted Earnhardt. “Even if we were taking off at 8:30 a.m. and he wasn’t there, I probably would have left him. He should have texted me last night, (but) I think he got a ride.”

Earnhardt said he has spoken with Newman this morning to apologize for the mixup.

“He said, ‘I should have texted last night,’” laughed Earnhardt. “It was unfortunate for sure, but it happens.”

Farmers Insurance Extends With Hendrick, Kahne

Farmers Insurance has extended its sponsorship of Hendrick Motorsports’ No. 5 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series team for three years and will give fans an opportunity to help design Kasey Kahne’s 2015 Chevrolet SS paint scheme.

Farmers Insurance will be featured as primary sponsor in 12 Sprint Cup Series races each season, including the season-opening Daytona 500. Farmers will also serve as an associate-level partner in all other events for the 2015, 2016 and 2017 seasons.

Fans can visit FarmersRacing.com to register for the upcoming paint scheme design challenge and vote on different elements of Kahne’s 2015 Farmers Insurance Chevrolet SS, including paint color, television panel text and more. In addition, one fan will be randomly selected to see the car in action at the 2015 Daytona 500. Voting will launch later this summer.

“We are pleased to announce our continued sponsorship of Hendrick Motorsports’ No. 5 team and are excited to build on the momentum of the last three years,” said Mike Linton, chief marketing officer at Farmers Insurance. “We are also looking forward to involving our fans in the design of the paint scheme for next year’s car.”

“Our team takes so much pride in representing Farmers Insurance and the thousands of agents, district managers and employees around the country,” said Kahne. “They have such a passion for NASCAR and the sport’s fans. Whether it’s thanking teachers or helping rebuild Joplin (Missouri), I’m honored to be involved with Farmers and the communities they serve. It’s exciting to continue our work together.”

Los Angeles-based Farmers Insurance joined the No. 5 team as a primary sponsor in April 2011.

“Our partnership with the team at Farmers has been unbelievable,” said Rick Hendrick, owner of Hendrick Motorsports. “Everything that’s been accomplished in just three years is extremely impressive, and they continue to seek ways to engage our fans and use the sponsorship to improve the lives of others. It’s gratifying to see the impact of our two organizations working together, and we look forward to more successes in the coming years.”

Since joining Hendrick Motorsports for the 2012 season, Kahne has earned two consecutive Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup berths. In addition to his 16 career race wins, the Enumclaw, Washington, native has earned 26 pole positions, 81 top-five finishes and 139 top-10s in Sprint Cup competition. His current contract with Hendrick Motorsports runs through the 2015 NASCAR season.

One Year Later, Remembering Jason Leffler

It's been one year since former NASCAR Sprint Cup, Nationwide and Camping World Truck Series driver Jason Leffler lost his life in a savage Sprint Car crash at New Jersey’s Bridgeport Speedway. Our eulogy for "LefTurn" remains one of the most-read articles in the history of GodfatherMotorsports.com, and we re-post it today in memory of our friend Jason.

He is gone, but not forgotten.

Dave Moody

Writer/Editor

GodfatherMotorsports.com

 

Charlie Dean Leffler’s daddy died last night, torn from the world in a crash so stunning, so horrific that it once again causes us to question our devotion to a sport that all too often breaks our hearts.

NASCAR driver Jason Leffler was pronounced dead shortly after 9 p.m. Wednesday, after a grinding crash at New Jersey’s Bridgeport Speedway. Witnesses said his 410 Sprint Car impacted the Turn Four wall during a qualifying heat race and flipped wildly down the front stretch of the 0.625-mile dirt oval.  Safety teams extricated the unconscious driver from his vehicle, with plans to transport him to Cooper University Hospital in Camden. His condition deteriorated rapidly while awaiting arrival of a medivac helicopter, however, and responders elected to transport him by ground ambulance to nearby Crozer-Chester Medical Center, where efforts to revive him were unsuccessful.

As word of the crash began to circulate, I did what I always do in situations like this. I told myself that the reports were untrue or exaggerated; the sad result of internet hysteria and a public raised on “reality” TV. When it became clear that a serious crash had indeed occurred, I prayed that Leffler’s injuries were not severe, assuring myself that he would back in the cockpit in a few weeks, or months.

Just before 10 p.m., however, a phone call from a colleague brought the horrible reality home. Jason Leffler was dead, leaving us to mourn – and remember --once again.

I have so many memories of the man we called “LefTurn.” He was a weekly guest on our Sirius XM Speedway radio program for years, sharing his life – both on and off the track – with a degree of candor that was both refreshing and rare. There were plenty of good days; wins in both the NASCAR Nationwide and Camping World Truck Series, championship-contending rides with elite owners like Joe Gibbs and Chip Ganassi, and a trio of runs in the legendary Indianapolis 500.

There were also a few bad days; crushing race-day defeats, championship shortcomings and the loss of his Nationwide and Truck Series rides. When he and Alison decided to end their marriage a few years ago, Leffler made his weekly appearance as scheduled, despite a heavy heart.

“Leff, we don’t have to do this today,” I told him. “If you want to take a pass, we can catch up next week.”

“Nah, dude,” he replied. “It’s OK. I got no secrets.”

In the months that followed, Leffler spoke constantly of his desire to be a loving and involved father to Charlie, despite the demands of his racing career. Our weekly, 4 p.m. conversations often coincided with the end of Charlie’s afternoon nap, and the unpredictability of a newly-awakened two-year old made our visits an absolute joy.

A year ago, I crossed paths with Jason and Charlie, sharing a “Boys Day Out” lunch at a local restaurant. While Jason and I talked racing, Charlie demolished a massive salad, shoveling huge forkfuls of lettuce into his mouth while simultaneously carrying on a silent flirtation with my wife.

“Charlie, you ate the whole thing,” laughed Leffler at the end of our chat. “What am I supposed to eat?”

“Sorry Daddy,” replied Charlie, “I was very hungry!”

How do you tell a five-year old boy that daddy is not coming home tonight? How do you explain that his father, his best friend and his hero – all rolled into one – has been cut down by a sport that exacts such a horrible toll from its brightest lights?

The loss is unfathomable, unacceptable and unbelievable.

Today, I mourn the loss of a phenomenal talent; a man who could run an entire, 10-lap heat race at the Chili Bowl Midget Nationals on three wheels, his left-front tire twitching in mid-air in an awe-inspiring display of chassis-bending bravado.

I mourn the loss of a friend whose zest for life, winning smile and goofy, faux-hawk hairdo never failed to make me smile.

I mourn the loss of a father who adored his son and deserved to see him grow up.

A quote attributed to the author Ernest Hemingway said, “There are but three true sports -- bullfighting, mountain climbing, and motor-racing. The rest are merely games.”

All sports include a varying degree of risk, but auto racing is especially adept at destroying its own. Racers have a special relationship with death. They brush shoulders with it daily, acknowledging its presence with a passing nod while clinging stubbornly to the belief that it’ll never happen to them.

“Last year, I did a part-time truck deal,” said Leffler to Motor Racing Network’s Winged Nation recently. “It was the least I had raced since I was 18 (and) mentally, it wasn’t good. I don’t like being home. I just like being in the race car at the race track.

“The (NASCAR) start-and-park deal is not for me,” he said. “I had a good run for over a decade, so it’s time to get back racing.”

Big-league NASCAR racing had not suffered a fatality since the great Dale Earnhardt crashed to his death on the final lap of the 2001 Daytona 500. In that time, SAFER barriers, HANS devices, improved helmet and seat technology and car construction have made the sport safer than at any point before. But make no mistake about it, auto racing is not safe, and it never will be.

As long as men and women strap themselves into objects capable of eclipsing 200 miles per hour, as long as they test the boundaries of human endurance at places like Daytona, Lemans, Winchester and Bridgeport, horrible things can – and will -- happen. Until the laws of physics are repealed, the immovable force will always trump the unstoppable object. And when it does, racers will die.

Jason Leffler knew that. We all knew that. But it doesn’t make what happened Wednesday evening any easier to accept.

Photos: Instagram/Jason Leffler

SKF To Back Montoya At Michigan

The SKF colors will return to the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series this weekend at Michigan International Raceway on the No. 12 SKF Ford Fusion driven by Team Penske’s Juan Pablo Montoya.

“I’m really excited to be heading back to NASCAR and looking forward to driving the SKF Ford Fusion,” said Montoya. “I’ve been around various forms of racing throughout my career and I’ve crossed paths with SKF in some way in each one of those series. I hope to put SKF and Team Penske back in victory lane on Sunday.”

Sunday’s race will be the second of three appearances for the SKF Ford Fusion. Ryan Blaney drove the No. 12 SKF Ford Fusion at Kansas Speedway earlier in the season, and he’ll return to the SKF Ford Fusion on October 19^th in Talladega.

SKF and Team Penske are in the third season of a multi-year racing partnership that saw Brad Keselowski win the Sprint Cup Championship in 2012. In addition to highlighting the SKF Group brand on the No. 12 SKF Ford Fusion, it will also feature Lincoln Lubrication and Kaydon Corporation, an SKF Group company acquired in 2013. Kaydon, headquartered in Ann Arbor, Michigan, is an international manufacturer within three areas: friction control products, velocity control products and specialty products including environmental services. These products and services are utilized in a variety of demanding industries, from medical and aerospace to wind power and mining.

As a technical partner to the entire Team Penske organization, SKF brings its world-class knowledge of reducing friction to both the NASCAR and IndyCar racing arenas. Partnering since November 2011, SKF and Team Penske have over 25 different application and development projects, drawing from all five of SKF’s technology competence areas: bearings, seals, lubrication, mechatronics and services.

Lynda Petty Honored With NMPA Spirit Award

The late Lynda Petty has been named the first quarter recipient of the National Motorsports Press Association’s Spirit Award. Petty died at her home in North Carolina on March 25, after a long illness.

The matriarch of NASCAR’s legendary Petty family and wife of 55 years to NASCAR Hall Of Famer Richard Petty, Lynda Petty was a founding member of NASCAR’s Racing Wives Auxiliary, which assists member of the racing community in times of hardship. She was also involved with a number of other civic and charitable causes.

“The NMPA Spirit Award is designed to recognize character and achievement in the face of adversity, sportsmanship and contributions to motorsports,” said the NMPA in a media release this week. “Each year, quarterly winners are chosen, and an overall annual winner is selected by a vote of the NMPA membership.”

Also receiving votes were six-time NASCAR Sprint Cup champion Jimmie Johnson and driver Denny Hamlin.

McMurray, Chitwood Practice With The Jags

NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver Jamie McMurray got a taste of life in the National Football League on Tuesday as the driver of the No. 1 McDonald’s/Cessna Chevrolet SS Chevrolet participated in offseason training activities with the Jacksonville Jaguars.

McMurray and Daytona International Speedway President Joie Chitwood III were at the Jaguars training facility promoting the upcoming Coke Zero 400 Powered By Coca-Cola on Saturday, July 5.

McMurray and Chitwood were worked through drills during the first hour of practice at the fields adjacent to EverBank Field.

“Dale Jr. actually sent me a text last week at a test and asked me about doing fantasy football,” McMurray said. “I’ve never done it before. This year is going to be my first time. It’s nice to get down here and meet these guys and see everything they go through.”

“It’s all about the athletes,” Chitwood said. “When you can put those together, it’s a great opportunity.”

Among the activities the duo performed were returning punts, catching passes alongside quarterbacks Blake Bortles and Stephen Morris and pushing the blocking sled. The Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates driver wore a black No. 1 jersey while Chitwood wore No. 59 signifying the first year of operation of Daytona International Speedway.

following practice, McMurray and Chitwood spoke to the team. Chitwood presented a Jaguars-themed driver’s helmet autographed by all NASCAR Sprint Cup Series drivers and McMurray gave a crew shirt to the organization.

The grueling hot practice was an eye opener for both McMurray and Chitwood.

“Water boy would probably be the best spot,” McMurray joked about what position he could play in the NFL. “It’s crazy how big all the guys are and then to see how small some of them are at the same time and they go up against each other fighting for the same piece of property.”

“Speed in racing is a big deal,” Chitwood said. “When you go out there and see these athletes at speed is pretty impressive. It doesn’t translate on TV. When you see them out there practicing, it’s amazing how fast things happen. It’s definitely something that I appreciated today.”

McMurray, who captured the 2010 Daytona 500 and won the Coke Zero 400 in 2007, will return to the “World Center of Racing” in a few weeks for the Independence Day holiday classic with hopes of adding another Daytona win to his resume and a spot in the Chase.

“When I look at Daytona, that’s kind of a wild card race that I think a lot of guys have an opportunity to win,” McMurray said. “I’ve won both races at Daytona in the past. I look forward to coming down here every time we race here but this year more than anything because guys are trying to get that one win to get into the Chase. Daytona is going to be a big event.”

The stars of NASCAR return to Daytona International Speedway on July 3-5. Tickets to the Coke Zero 400 Powered By Coca-Cola NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race and the Subway Firecracker 250 Powered By Coca-Cola NASCAR Nationwide Series race are available by calling 1-800-PITSHOP or online at www.daytonainternationalspeedway.com. You can also catch the Coke Zero 400 Powered By Coca-Cola live from Daytona International Speedway on Saturday, July 5 at 6:30 p.m. ET on TNT. The race will also be broadcast on MRN Radio and SiriusXM.

Glen Wood Remembers Junie Donlavey

Junie Donlavey

Wood Brothers Racing founder and NASCAR Hall Of Famer Glen Wood commented today on former team owner Junie Donlavey, who passed away Monday at age 90.

“The only thing you really need to know about Junie Donlavey is that he was probably the most well-liked person ever in the sport of NASCAR,” said Wood. “He was a good friend of the Wood Brothers … one of our very best friends in the sport.   I can tell you I would call him on the phone, and even before I could get a word or two out, he knew who it was that was calling.

“The thing I will always remember about Junie is that he was never mad or upset.  He took everything in stride.  He just enjoyed being around the sport and being around people.   You’d see him in the garage, and he’d always be talking with someone, and I used to love seeing him doubled-up laughing over some story.

“As far as I know, his team was never fully-funded, like you would see with most teams,” Wood said. “But he always wanted to run well every time he was out there.  I know he had some real good cars in the modified and sportsman days, even before NASCAR started.  He had cars that ran well all the time, so he was a competitive person.

“But he always helped out everyone, no matter who you were.  He helped out so many drivers and crew members who just wanted to get into the sport.  He always had time for people like that."
  

Lee Brice To Perform In Daytona Pre-Race

Country music singer and songwriter, Lee Brice, whose list of hits include “A Woman Like You,” “Parking Lot Party,” CMA and ACM Song of the Year “I Drive Your Truck,” and “I Don’t Dance,” will perform an hour-long pre-race concert prior to the 56^th annual Coke Zero 400 Powered By Coca-Cola NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race on Saturday, July 5 at Daytona International Speedway.

Through a special VIP Ticket Package, race fans can get unprecedented access to the 60-minute pre-race concert that will be staged on pit road in the tri-oval area of the “World Center of Racing.” With packages starting at $115, the VIP Ticket Package includes a reserved grandstand ticket for the Coke Zero 400 Powered By Coca-Cola, Pre-Race/Sprint FANZONE access and admission to the VIP viewing area in front of the stage for the pre-race concert by Brice.

“We’re excited to welcome Lee Brice for the Coke Zero 400 Weekend Powered By Coca-Cola and have him perform in front of the thousands of race fans in attendance,” Daytona International Speedway President Joie Chitwood III said. “As we celebrate the Independence Day holiday weekend, Lee’s energetic performance will prepare race fans for a thrilling night of NASCAR racing on the high banks.”

Brice released his debut album, Love Like Crazy, in 2009 and its title track was Billboard’s Top Country Song of 2010. His second album, Hard 2 Love, was released in 2012 and has produced hit singles such as “A Woman Like You,” “Hard to Love” and “I Drive Your Truck,” which garnered both CMA and Academy of Country Music honors in the coveted Song of the Year category. Earlier this year Brice released “I Don’t Dance,” which is the title track for his third album set to release on September 9.

Brice is also an accomplished songwriter have written for stars such as Garth Brooks, Tim McGraw, the Eli Young Band, Adam Gregory and Jason Aldean.

The stars of NASCAR return to Daytona International Speedway on July 3-5. Tickets to the Coke Zero 400 Powered By Coca-Cola NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race and the Subway Firecracker 250 Powered By Coca-Cola NASCAR Nationwide Series race are available by calling 1-800-PITSHOP or online at www.daytonainternationalspeedway.com. 

NASCAR Great Junie Donlavey Dies At Age 90

Longtime NASCAR team owner Junie Donlavey passed away Monday night at age 90, in his hometown of Richmond, Virginia.

Donlavey’s NASCAR Grand National (now Sprint Cup) career began in 1950 at Martinsville (VA) Speedway, when he entered a 1949 Oldsmobile for driver Runt Harris, finishing 19^th in the 21-car field. By then, however, he had long ranked as one of the country’s top modified car owners, with dozens of victories throughout the south. 

Over the years, he fielded cars for three eventual NASCAR Hall Of Famers -- Joe Weatherly, Fred Lorenzen and David Pearson – and earned a reputation for giving talented young drivers their start in the sport. Tiny Lund, Sonny Hutchins, Bill Dennis, Dick Brooks, Charlie Glotzback, Jimmy Hensley, Ken Schrader and Wally Dallenbach, Jr. all drove for Donlavey at one point or another in their NASCAR careers.

Jody Ridley won at Dover in 1981

His lone victory in 863 career Cup starts came in 1981 at Dover International Speedway, when rookie Jody Ridley authored one of the biggest upsets in the history of the sport. With 50 laps remaining, Ridley was four laps behind leader Neil Bonnett and two laps back of runner-up Cale Yarborough. When Bonnett and Yarborough both suffered engine failure within site of the checkered flag, Ridley took Donlavey Racing to Victory Lane.

“This has got to be a bigger thrill for Junie than it is for me,” said Ridley after the race. “He’s been at it for almost 30 years (and) I’m a rookie. I just can’t believe it. This is the biggest thrill of my life.”

Plagued by lack of sponsorship, Donlavey ran his final race in 2002 at Rockingham Speedway, finishing 41^st with driver Hermie Sadler. He battled the effects of Alzheimer's disease in recent years, but still made periodic appearances in the NASCAR garage.

"This is what I miss most,” said Donlavey while shaking hands with friends and admirers in 2006 at his home track, Richmond International Raceway. “I miss the people and the friendships and the storytelling you can only get in racing."

NASCAR issued a statement on Donlavey's passing today, saying, “With Junie Donlavey's passing this week, NASCAR lost a treasure, a man who personified NASCAR's proud past. With 863 starts as a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series car owner, he won over millions of fans through his 50-plus years in our sport. The list of men who drove for him during his career is impressive, including two who won NASCAR Sprint Cup Rookie of the Year honors -- Ken Schrader and Jody Ridley. Others included Dick Brooks, Ricky Rudd, Dick Trickle and Benny Parsons. All contributed to Junie's lasting legacy in our sport. NASCAR offers sincere condolences to Junie's family and friends at this difficult time."

Marks Tabbed For Nationwide Road Course Starts

Justin Marks will drive the No. 31 SOL REPUBLIC Chevrolet for Turner Scott Motorsports in a pair of NASCAR Nationwide Series events at Road America in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin and Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course in Mansfield, Ohio. Marks will drive the No. 31 TSM car while Dylan Kwasniewski – the car’s primary driver -- substitutes for Kyle Larson in the No. 42 car.  

Marks, a Northern California native, is no stranger to NASCAR, having competed in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, Nationwide Series and Camping World Truck Series and will race with the support of headphone brand SOL REPUBLIC and Casamigos Tequila. 

"It's always exciting to bring new sponsors into NASCAR and introduce them to the most loyal fan base in all sports," said Marks. "SOL REPUBLIC is passionate about the power of music and bringing great sound to every music fan to change the world, one listener at a time. NASCAR and music are connected at every level - we use music to focus, get pumped up and to set the atmosphere for 30,000 screaming fans. SOL REPUBLIC is the perfect vehicle and partner to help us do that." 

In previous years, TSM has had much success on Nationwide Series road courses, claiming three wins at Road America, along with two Top-5 and two Top-10 finishes. The organization also scored a Top-10 finish in the Nationwide Series' debut at Mid-Ohio, one year ago. 

"Returning to the Nationwide Series with Turner Scott Motorsports is kind of like returning home,” said Marks. “Nearly all of my starts in the series were with Braun Racing and many of those guys are now at Turner Scott. Harry Scott Jr. and Steve Turner have done a great job proving their organization can contend for wins every week. They have great people, great equipment and display great effort every time they're on the track. I'm looking forward to being a part of that." 

"The addition of Justin Marks to the Turner Scott Motorsports roster for Road America and Mid-Ohio is really exciting for our organization as a whole," said TSM co-owner Harry Scott Jr. "Justin is an extremely talented road-course driver and we're very lucky to have him on board while Dylan Kwasniewski drives the No. 42 car for Kyle Larson. Justin, along with his two new sponsors, are an ideal fit for our organization and we look forward to seeing what the trio can do in these two races."

Edwards: "We Know We Have To Be Faster"

Despite persistent rumors of his possible departure to Joe Gibbs Racing in 2015, Carl Edwards remains steadfast in his insistence on not discussing his ongoing contract negotiations with Roush Fenway Racing.

He is more than willing, however, to discuss what he sees as the team’s competitive shortcomings.

Edwards met with reporters today at Pocono Raceway, saying that while he remains loyal to both RFR and Ford Motor Company, he is not satisfied with the partnership’s current on-track product

“I don’t think anybody makes better cars than Ford does,” insisted Edwards today. “I think they really care about their products and they definitely care about racing. It is part of their DNA.

“I am really proud to drive for Ford and I think they do a great job,” he said. “(But) as a group, we have to step-up our performance at Roush Fenway to be representative of Ford’s contribution. We know we have to be faster (and) there are big changes trying to address that.”

Edwards spoke confidently an RFR test session at Nashville Superspeedway earlier this week, calling it “positive.” And after qualifying eighth for Sunday’s race at The Tricky Triangle, the Fastenal Ford driver said he hopes to be even better on race day.

“I was hoping we would be better here today in light of one or two things we found,” he said. “But it is still a pretty young weekend. There is some stuff we would like to try tomorrow.”

The 2014 season has not been a failure for Edwards, by any stretch of the imagination. He has a win in hand already – at Bristol Motor Speedway in mid-March – and is third in points earned behind only Matt Kenseth and Jeff Gordon. With only 104 laps led, however (78 of those in his win at Bristol) the No. 99 Ford has not exactly been a fixture at the front of the pack.

“We’ve basically had the same struggle all year,” said Edwards today at Pocono Raceway. “We’re working on addressing that. We have time to fix it, hopefully, before the Chase.

“We just have to hope that we work on the right things, we are able to implement the finds and be better.”

Wood Brothers To Sport New Livery At Michigan

Wood Brothers Racing’s Motorcraft/Quick Lane No. 21 Ford Fusion will have a different look when it hits the track at Michigan International Speedway next weekend.  

Quick Lane blue will replace the usual Motorcraft red that is synonymous with the Wood Brothers Racing NASCAR Sprint Cup entry. In addition to prominent Quick Lane Tire & Auto Center markings on the hood, the rear deck lid will feature the Quick Lane tag line “READY TO SERVE.” 

The Motorcraft logo will still appear on the new-look No. 21. As Quick Lane’s principal replacement parts brand, the relationship between Quick Lane and Motorcraft is critical to the success of each.

In February, Quick Lane Tire & Auto Center opened its 700^th U.S. retail location, making it one of the fastest-growing auto center chains in the country. With a Quick Lane location now in every state, the company is embarking on a national ad campaign to introduce its various marketplace advantages and to let customers across the nation know that Quick Lane is “Ready to Serve” with convenience and confidence.  Part of the campaign will feature the No. 21 NASCAR livery featured at the Quicken Loans 400 as well as its driver, 2011 Daytona 500 winner Trevor Bayne.  

“Opening our 700^th location is an important milestone for Quick Lane Tire & Auto Center,” said Frederiek Toney, president of the Ford Customer Service Division. “With locations from coast to coast, we can support our Quick Lane brand with national advertising including our partnership with NASCAR and Wood Brothers Racing. We hope that this paint scheme running in a nationally televised NASCAR race and the associated ad campaign will make our Quick Lane owners proud and increase recognition for the brand.” 

Moffitt Returns To MWR #66 In Michigan

Hot off his series debut at Dover last weekend, Michael Waltrip Racing has announced thatBrett Moffitt will drive the No. 66 Let’s Go Places Toyota at Michigan International Speedway next week.

Moffitt, a 21-year-old Iowa native, made his NASCAR Sprint Cup debut in Dover last week in the No. 66 with Jay Robinson Racing, starting 18th and posting a 22nd-place finish. Jeff Burton, who was originally slated to run the Michigan race, now will be entered in the July 13 Sprint Cup Series event at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, where he has won four times.  

“Our No. 66 team was originally scheduled to run some new components at Michigan with Jeff, but those plans were delayed last week, causing us to debate running Michigan at all,” said MWR co-owner Michael Waltrip. “However, after the great effort we saw with Brett in his debut at Dover, we decided to move forward with Michigan, allowing Brett more seat time and to work towards his NASCAR eligibility to race on bigger tracks. 

“Brett did an amazing job in Dover, not only to gain experience, but more importantly respect from the other competitors. The best part is we are now taking Jeff Burton to New Hampshire where he has a lot of success and can really impact the performance of all MWR cars.” 

Moffitt is a nine-time winner in K&N Pro Series East competition and has served as a test driver for MWR for the past two seasons.   

“It seems like this is all happening very fast, but I feel like we have been working towards this kind of opportunity for a long time,” said Moffitt. “At Dover, we set some goals and I feel like we accomplished all of them and exceeded most of them. Heading to Michigan our goals will be much of the same. I want to get comfortable and I want the greatest drivers in the world to be comfortable around me.” 

Burton said he looks forward to racing at New Hampshire. His four victories are the most of any driver in the 38 Sprint Cup races held at the mile oval in Loudon.   

"When the testing plans for Michigan changed and the ability to run New Hampshire became available I jumped at the opportunity. This gives Brett a chance to get some well deserve race time and the ability for me to race at one of my favorite race tracks. This is a win for all of us at MWR."

A partnership between MWR and Jay Robinson Racing allows the No. 66 to compete in all NASCAR Sprint Cup races. Waltrip raced the Toyota at Daytona and Talladega while Burton raced in Las Vegas.

NASCAR Adjusts Eldora Qualifying Format

NASCAR has announced a series of format changes for the second annual NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race at Eldora Speedway, scheduled for July 23.  

Among the changes, aimed to place additional emphasis on driver skill and team strategy, are:

Pit stops during competition cautions are now optional. Pit stops were mandatory in last year’s inaugural event.

Each qualifying race will now be 10 laps in length. Last year, each race was eight laps.

A random draw will determine qualifying order. Last year, practice speeds dictated the qualifying order.

Owner points will be awarded to the top five team owners whose trucks do not transfer to the main feature. Last season, teams that did not advance to the main feature did not earn owner points. 

“Last year’s inaugural event at Eldora Speedway was an incredible success, and these enhancements will only increase the excitement for our fans,” said Chad Little, NASCAR Camping World Truck Series managing director. “NASCAR continually works with team owners and drivers to ensure that NASCAR fans get what they’ve come to expect out of the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series – close, thrilling racing, every single lap.”

The event continues to showcase a traditional two-lap qualifying session, five qualifying races, one last-chance race and a champion’s provisional to determine the 30-truck starting field. The top 20 in owner points entering the event will have a guaranteed starting position.

The overall race procedures for the Mudsummer Classic are as follows:

Time Trial Qualifying

Two-lap, single-truck qualifying determines starting position for the qualifying races with random draw determining the qualifying order.

Qualifying Races

Five qualifying races will be held at 10 laps each and only green flag laps are counted.

Lineup for the qualifying races will be based on qualifying speeds.

The top five trucks in qualifying will start on the pole for their respective qualifying races with four locked-in trucks (top 20 in driver points) starting in each qualifying race.

Five trucks from each qualifying race will transfer to the feature – four locked-in trucks and one non-locked-in truck.

Upon completion of the qualifying races, 25 trucks will earn spots in the feature race.

Last Chance Race

The lineup will be based on finishing position from the qualifying races and the race will be 15 laps with only green flag laps counted.

Top-four finishers transfer to the feature and start in positions 26-29.

The 30th starting position goes to the most recent past series champion. If the position is not filled by an eligible champion, it will be assigned to the next highest finishing truck of the Last Chance Race.

Owner points will be awarded to the top five team owners whose trucks do not transfer into the feature.

Feature

The race will be 150 laps divided into three segments of 60, 50 and 40 laps with competition cautions at the breaks on Lap 60 and Lap 110.

Caution laps will not count during the competition cautions and positions cannot be improved on pit road.

Teams are not required to pit during the competition cautions. Those teams that do not elect to pit, may remain on the track and start in front of the pitting teams.